JT Smithling
@jtsmithling.bsky.social
Hasbeen scientist, wannabe writer, occasional metalhead.
What the critics say about me:
"Nihilistic, sharp-edged"
"Unnecessarily vulgar"
What the critics say about me:
"Nihilistic, sharp-edged"
"Unnecessarily vulgar"
Pinned
JT Smithling
@jtsmithling.bsky.social
· Nov 20
a white feather is flying through the air in a dark room .
Alt: a white feather is descending through the air in the dark, to touch water.
media.tenor.com
Hello, fellow feathers in the wind, on the big blue sky.
Looking forward to conversations and sharing things around make-believe.
Looking forward to conversations and sharing things around make-believe.
Third anniversary for me participating in WB Autumn Short Story Battle! One week to write a 2K short story, then a month to judge other stories. Join up! @writingbattle.bsky.social #WritingCommunity #writersofbluesky
www.writingbattle.com/join-battle
www.writingbattle.com/join-battle
Writing Battle — Write. Read. Win.
Write. Read. Win. A competitive writing platform for storytellers around the world.
Receive oodles of feedback.
Join the most supportive writing community on the web. You up for the chal...
www.writingbattle.com
October 26, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Third anniversary for me participating in WB Autumn Short Story Battle! One week to write a 2K short story, then a month to judge other stories. Join up! @writingbattle.bsky.social #WritingCommunity #writersofbluesky
www.writingbattle.com/join-battle
www.writingbattle.com/join-battle
At first I was surprised how light pop this new Amorphis song is. Without Tomi Joutsen's dark growling from the shadows, this could be a... dance tune?
Then I noticed the song's name. My bad. Is #metal. Well done. Carry on. 🤘💃🤘
open.spotify.com/track/76vjqp...
Then I noticed the song's name. My bad. Is #metal. Well done. Carry on. 🤘💃🤘
open.spotify.com/track/76vjqp...
Dancing Shadow
Amorphis · Dancing Shadow · Song · 2025
open.spotify.com
August 8, 2025 at 4:37 PM
At first I was surprised how light pop this new Amorphis song is. Without Tomi Joutsen's dark growling from the shadows, this could be a... dance tune?
Then I noticed the song's name. My bad. Is #metal. Well done. Carry on. 🤘💃🤘
open.spotify.com/track/76vjqp...
Then I noticed the song's name. My bad. Is #metal. Well done. Carry on. 🤘💃🤘
open.spotify.com/track/76vjqp...
This. Before getting invested in a TV-series I go find plot synopsis online to make sure the writers have indeed wrapped up the mystery (I don't believe spoilers spoil anything). And if it's in n-th season without resolution, I bail out immediately.
Never again will I submit to shit like Lost.
Never again will I submit to shit like Lost.
I wrote about why I was giving up on mystery box television here:
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
August 1, 2025 at 10:37 AM
This. Before getting invested in a TV-series I go find plot synopsis online to make sure the writers have indeed wrapped up the mystery (I don't believe spoilers spoil anything). And if it's in n-th season without resolution, I bail out immediately.
Never again will I submit to shit like Lost.
Never again will I submit to shit like Lost.
Reposted by JT Smithling
The arrogance and (sinful) pride of evangelical missionary groups on display once again. Leave remote peoples alone.
July 27, 2025 at 8:29 AM
The arrogance and (sinful) pride of evangelical missionary groups on display once again. Leave remote peoples alone.
This was fun - helping @michaelboulerice.bsky.social global guerilla-campaign for his upcoming book. No, I have not read the book, but expecting it to be riveting, based on this wonderfully weird fever-dream dark western horror short story I have read: www.houseofgamut.com/magazine/in-...
JYVASKYL, FINLAND: Bulletin board on an undisclosed college campus
July 21, 2025 at 9:36 PM
This was fun - helping @michaelboulerice.bsky.social global guerilla-campaign for his upcoming book. No, I have not read the book, but expecting it to be riveting, based on this wonderfully weird fever-dream dark western horror short story I have read: www.houseofgamut.com/magazine/in-...
Jan Rechberger's drumming in Amorphis is mesmerizing, very happy to find he's also in another band, and credited as composer.
Dark, melodic, melancholic, progressive, doom metal. If that doesn't make you happy, something's wrong with you! Heal! Listen to The Eternal!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjmq...
Dark, melodic, melancholic, progressive, doom metal. If that doesn't make you happy, something's wrong with you! Heal! Listen to The Eternal!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjmq...
THE ETERNAL - When The Fire Dies (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Reigning Phoenix Music
www.youtube.com
June 30, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Jan Rechberger's drumming in Amorphis is mesmerizing, very happy to find he's also in another band, and credited as composer.
Dark, melodic, melancholic, progressive, doom metal. If that doesn't make you happy, something's wrong with you! Heal! Listen to The Eternal!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjmq...
Dark, melodic, melancholic, progressive, doom metal. If that doesn't make you happy, something's wrong with you! Heal! Listen to The Eternal!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjmq...
To spice (heh) up my music posts usually linking to metal with something different: the soundtrack to the new Dune-game is magnificent!
open.spotify.com/album/7ywGD6...
open.spotify.com/album/7ywGD6...
Dune: Awakening (Original Video Game Soundtrack)
Knut Avenstroup Haugen · Album · 2025 · 26 songs
open.spotify.com
June 12, 2025 at 9:09 PM
To spice (heh) up my music posts usually linking to metal with something different: the soundtrack to the new Dune-game is magnificent!
open.spotify.com/album/7ywGD6...
open.spotify.com/album/7ywGD6...
Reposted by JT Smithling
This guy consistently posts songs with incredible lyrics mere hours after events unfurl. This was a good one.
June 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
This guy consistently posts songs with incredible lyrics mere hours after events unfurl. This was a good one.
Reposted by JT Smithling
Happy World Goth Day! 🦇🦇🦇
May 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Happy World Goth Day! 🦇🦇🦇
More Italian blissful #metal! Again, a band that has been around a while, but I just found them: Deathless Legacy!
Very dark - and theatrical - aesthetics in videos. Which is good, but this is not just a shock act: new album is all good music: open.spotify.com/album/6WxQ67...
youtu.be/DS0CfBY2GZE
Very dark - and theatrical - aesthetics in videos. Which is good, but this is not just a shock act: new album is all good music: open.spotify.com/album/6WxQ67...
youtu.be/DS0CfBY2GZE
DEATHLESS LEGACY - Sanctified (Official Video)
YouTube video by Scarlet Records
youtu.be
May 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM
More Italian blissful #metal! Again, a band that has been around a while, but I just found them: Deathless Legacy!
Very dark - and theatrical - aesthetics in videos. Which is good, but this is not just a shock act: new album is all good music: open.spotify.com/album/6WxQ67...
youtu.be/DS0CfBY2GZE
Very dark - and theatrical - aesthetics in videos. Which is good, but this is not just a shock act: new album is all good music: open.spotify.com/album/6WxQ67...
youtu.be/DS0CfBY2GZE
I want to see Rachel Hardy cast in big-budget films. Incredible expressive power and storytelling in just the subtle changes in gaze - and never once does she look at the camera! Imagine what this woman could bring to cinema, say, in a noir movie?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=we4L...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=we4L...
Gollum's Song - The Lord of the Rings (The Two Towers) | Cover by Rachel Hardy
YouTube video by Rachel Hardy
www.youtube.com
May 7, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I want to see Rachel Hardy cast in big-budget films. Incredible expressive power and storytelling in just the subtle changes in gaze - and never once does she look at the camera! Imagine what this woman could bring to cinema, say, in a noir movie?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=we4L...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=we4L...
Reposted by JT Smithling
My story “Jack of All Faces” is out now in @smallwondersmag.com and YOU can read it!! Hit that link for the most sentence you will read today:
Jack of All Faces - Small Wonders
She told the press all about her narrow vanquishment of the dread magician John Coe and his apprentice Ruby.
smallwondersmag.com
April 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
My story “Jack of All Faces” is out now in @smallwondersmag.com and YOU can read it!! Hit that link for the most sentence you will read today:
Reposted by JT Smithling
Happy birthday, Dad. Time to come back now, it’s all gone a bit rubbish without you. ❤️❤️❤️
April 28, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Happy birthday, Dad. Time to come back now, it’s all gone a bit rubbish without you. ❤️❤️❤️
Reposted by JT Smithling
This is incredible.💗🏳️⚧️ Rhianna Pratchett and Rob Wilkins spent the whole week digging through Sir Terry Pratchett's archives to find an incredibly rare signed first edition of Monstrous Regiment for the Genre for Trans Rights charity auction. bit.ly/genrefortrans. It's already over £1000!
April 27, 2025 at 1:29 PM
This is incredible.💗🏳️⚧️ Rhianna Pratchett and Rob Wilkins spent the whole week digging through Sir Terry Pratchett's archives to find an incredibly rare signed first edition of Monstrous Regiment for the Genre for Trans Rights charity auction. bit.ly/genrefortrans. It's already over £1000!
Today I learned that the Internet Movie Database has 1-10 rating scale for all movies.
Except one.
For Spinal Tap - *only* - the scale goes to eleven.
This makes my middle-aged metalheart happy.
Except one.
For Spinal Tap - *only* - the scale goes to eleven.
This makes my middle-aged metalheart happy.
April 27, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Today I learned that the Internet Movie Database has 1-10 rating scale for all movies.
Except one.
For Spinal Tap - *only* - the scale goes to eleven.
This makes my middle-aged metalheart happy.
Except one.
For Spinal Tap - *only* - the scale goes to eleven.
This makes my middle-aged metalheart happy.
Lacuna Coil, Walk in Darkness, Volturian, and now this (band new for me): Messa.
Who knew sunny Italy produces such sweet darkness? Feeling kinship to these melodies and rhythms, as a Nordic gothic doom metalhead. Moritūrī tē salūtant, Italian brothers and sisters.
Who knew sunny Italy produces such sweet darkness? Feeling kinship to these melodies and rhythms, as a Nordic gothic doom metalhead. Moritūrī tē salūtant, Italian brothers and sisters.
April 12, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Lacuna Coil, Walk in Darkness, Volturian, and now this (band new for me): Messa.
Who knew sunny Italy produces such sweet darkness? Feeling kinship to these melodies and rhythms, as a Nordic gothic doom metalhead. Moritūrī tē salūtant, Italian brothers and sisters.
Who knew sunny Italy produces such sweet darkness? Feeling kinship to these melodies and rhythms, as a Nordic gothic doom metalhead. Moritūrī tē salūtant, Italian brothers and sisters.
I signed up for "Twisted Teams" writing contest, do consider joining in. Main reasons for me: I think this will be fun, and given the team factor (+ a little money if mate wins), there's motivation to provide careful beta-reads twistedtournament.com/homepageteams #TwistInTaleContest #writingcontest
Twisted Teams - A Writing Competition with a Twist
Join Twisted Teams - A Writing Competition Balancing Individual Creativity with Team Collaboration
twistedtournament.com
April 11, 2025 at 9:49 AM
I signed up for "Twisted Teams" writing contest, do consider joining in. Main reasons for me: I think this will be fun, and given the team factor (+ a little money if mate wins), there's motivation to provide careful beta-reads twistedtournament.com/homepageteams #TwistInTaleContest #writingcontest
Reposted by JT Smithling
![tumblr post from user tsarina-anadyomene: Cocaine was a stimulant used by a priestly caste of the middle period United States called businessmen in order to commune with The Market. [1]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:53ll4pdz463gn7fgzhtvglpx/bafkreidhvluafi32ss6jums2j4d7uqxjej5v7vnjhdpyvtd7nvxf5tht3i@jpeg)
Reposted by JT Smithling
Friends, please boost!
THIS IS REAL: #SleepingWorldsHaveNoMemory just got an endorsement from the 4-time Hugo-nominated Hugo Book Club Blog!!
For your #HugoAwards consideration 🙂 The nominations close in 11 hours ...
THIS IS REAL: #SleepingWorldsHaveNoMemory just got an endorsement from the 4-time Hugo-nominated Hugo Book Club Blog!!
For your #HugoAwards consideration 🙂 The nominations close in 11 hours ...
Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory by @barsukov.com is about being punished for doing the right thing, it's about propaganda culture, all in an 1800s-inspired nonstandard fantasy setting.
Shea Ashcroft, banished to the hinterlands to build the tower, was one of my favourite protagonists of the year.
Shea Ashcroft, banished to the hinterlands to build the tower, was one of my favourite protagonists of the year.
March 14, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Friends, please boost!
THIS IS REAL: #SleepingWorldsHaveNoMemory just got an endorsement from the 4-time Hugo-nominated Hugo Book Club Blog!!
For your #HugoAwards consideration 🙂 The nominations close in 11 hours ...
THIS IS REAL: #SleepingWorldsHaveNoMemory just got an endorsement from the 4-time Hugo-nominated Hugo Book Club Blog!!
For your #HugoAwards consideration 🙂 The nominations close in 11 hours ...
What a horrible read. Warmly recommended.
My very weird western short "In Pursuit of the Black Chuck Wagon" made this list (and is free to read)! Thank you so much for putting me in with all of these killer stories @mariahaskins.com!
maria-is-reading.blogspot.com/2025/01/my-2...
maria-is-reading.blogspot.com/2025/01/my-2...
My 2024 Recommended Reading List
It's that time of year again when lots of people and publications are sharing their favourite reads from the previous year. Here is a samp...
maria-is-reading.blogspot.com
March 12, 2025 at 8:51 PM
What a horrible read. Warmly recommended.
Reposted by JT Smithling
Word of the day is ‘huff-snuff’ (16th century): a hectoring bully or braggart.
February 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Word of the day is ‘huff-snuff’ (16th century): a hectoring bully or braggart.
Zelensky. It's a shame americans were represented by those two little rats in that meeting. You stood tall, and you continue to stand for what is right.
Slava Ukraini! Слава Україні!
Slava Ukraini! Слава Україні!
February 28, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Zelensky. It's a shame americans were represented by those two little rats in that meeting. You stood tall, and you continue to stand for what is right.
Slava Ukraini! Слава Україні!
Slava Ukraini! Слава Україні!
Reposted by JT Smithling
The feds have set up enddei.ed.gov so anybody can report "DEI" in schools and try to get them segregated.
But anybody can submit anything to this portal.
You know what to do.
But anybody can submit anything to this portal.
You know what to do.
Department of Education FormLock
enddei.ed.gov
February 27, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The feds have set up enddei.ed.gov so anybody can report "DEI" in schools and try to get them segregated.
But anybody can submit anything to this portal.
You know what to do.
But anybody can submit anything to this portal.
You know what to do.